Spanish Grand Prix: Verstappen makes F1 history; Mercedes crash out

IMAGE: Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates his first win on the podium during the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix. Photograph: Dan Istitene/Getty Images.

Dutch teenager Max Verstappen made Formula One history as the youngest race winner on Sunday in a sensational Spanish Grand Prix that saw dominant Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg collide and crash out on the opening lap.

Verstappen, only 18 and making his debut for the former world champions after being promoted from junior team Toro Rosso a week earlier, beat Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen -- at 36 twice his age -- by 0.616 seconds.

Verstappen was also the youngest driver to stand on the podium and the first Dutch race winner since the championship started in 1950.

"The kid's just done an unbelievable job. Max hasn't put a wheel wrong all weekend. To win the race, I don't think anyone can have dreamed of that."

Verstappen soaked up the moment, lingering on the podium after the Ferrari drivers had gone and holding the winner's trophy aloft.

While Red Bull celebrated, and Ferrari rescued a race that had looked like being one to forget after Raikkonen and Vettel qualified fifth and sixth, dominant champions Mercedes were licking their self-inflicted wounds.

Triple world champion Hamilton had started on pole position, with Rosberg alongside, but their race imploded after three corners.

The German passed Hamilton around the outside of turn one and the Briton was then squeezed on to the grass as he tried to regain the lead. His car skewed sideways and smashed into Rosberg's, with both drivers ending up in the gravel and the safety car deployed.